M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: ClodKing on September 17, 2008, 09:51:22 PM

Title: Gas tank
Post by: ClodKing on September 17, 2008, 09:51:22 PM

Okay, so I got my new tank in the mail. Looks great, and I have new lines installed already, and a new pump and filter, and the Mustang Injectors done. So most of the fuel delivery system is new.

I knew that the drive shaft has to be dropped, but didn't really look at the exhaust routing. When I was under the car doing my control arms I looked back and saw with much dismay that the exhaust follows the driveshaft down the center of the car.

So my question is:

Can I drop the back half of the exhaust, and still get the d-shaft out. Or does the whole exhaust system have to be dropped?? (minus header of course).

Also, The bolts have become one with the flanges... Can I just take a grinder to the heads, and drill out what's left, and bolt the halves back together again with nuts, and bolts?? If not then I'll just invest in a full exhaust job, and hack that crap out.

Title: Gas tank
Post by: christophbmw on September 17, 2008, 10:47:44 PM

disconnect it at the header, it takes like five minutes and a few tools to drop the exaust. and im not exagerating....you can seriously do it in five minutes.

Title: Gas tank
Post by: ClodKing on September 18, 2008, 04:26:56 PM

Seriously?

Are the bolts threaded into the flange?

Title: Gas tank
Post by: ak96ss on September 18, 2008, 05:47:26 PM

The bolts are tack-welded to the flange, from the header side. I had the same problem when I pulled the original exhaust off, I just ground the tack welds off, pulled the original bolts out, and used regular nuts and bolts to put it all back together.

It really does only take about 5 minutes to remove the whole damn system once the car is up, as long as your bolts aren't rusted together. Then it can take a little longer. PB Blaster and those stripped nut removal sockets are your friends!

(http://s7.sears.com/is/image/Sears/00952166000?qlt=90,0&resMode=sharp&op_usm=0.9,0.5,0,0)

Title: Gas tank
Post by: ClodKing on September 21, 2008, 06:12:43 PM

Yeah I just looked at the bolts.

I saw the tack, and I wonder if I can even get a grinder in there.

The bolts are VERY corroded... very. I could try to grind the tack welds off, and if that doesn't work I'll just cut the exhaust in that straight section, and just add a coupler afterwards.

My cat is pretty funked upso I may have to replace that while the exhaust is off.